slim32

I am very surprised they did not get Pahlsson, considering his brief history with Babcock. When Datsyuk comes back, the top two lines will be good for the playoffs. They have to keep Abdelkader with Helm and Miller. Have Cleary center the fourth line and have Holmstrom and Conner on the wings. I think Abdelkader provides more speed and is more physical than Cleary, so he needs to play third line minutes. Plus Cleary can get the fourth line to produce more. They are a much better team that has lost to San Jose the last two years. But, Vancouver is the real team to be measured by.

After they lost in the playoffs, Babcock was quoted as saying there will be changes for sure. Is this what they call changes: Re-signing 2 career 4th line forwards that are good at getting in the shooting lanes on the PK and scoring once every 10-15 games or so..., way overpaying Ericsson who despite his size and hidden talent doesn't know the meaning of playing at a high level every game?

Next they will be saying they like the team and they expect (the usual statement every year) 70 points out of Filpulla and Hudler is good for 20+ goals and 60 points---If anything, maybe the changes will come during the season and hopefully they can use these two yo-yo's during a trade or two.

Nick always plays against the top lines. That's nothing new this year. Nick plays with Dats and Zetterberg this year. That's nothing new. You are saying leaking goaltending and poor defense? Who's Nick's partner this year? Not Rafalski for the first time in the last few years.

Sure Rafalski gets out-muscled some of the time, but he also takes a good hit while making a nice outlet pass to start the rush. To the haters: Since Rafalski got here and has been paired with Nick, Nick has had the best +/- stats of his career...This is the first season in the last few that Nick has not been paired with Rafalski and Nick's +/- has taken a hit. No one can find much of anything negative with Nick, but you can't argue that stat.

And Rafalski has had a major positive impact on Ericsson this season. From where Ericsson was last season to where he is now while playing with Rafalski all year...6 mil has been well worth it!

rebel--have you ever been on a dirt road and in the country and found yourself behind a tractor? I am guessing you have not. Tractors move very slow. Just because someone is trying to pass a tractor does not mean they are in a hurry.

Hard to believe that I've been a fan of Maltby's for 14 years...time sure flies by. Lots of good memories watching him play and agitate. He always picked up his play in the playoffs and was always willing to not miss a check.

Good for him that he was a plus player last year and scored a goal in his last reg. season game of his career.

I have an argument for a number that shouldn't be worn again-the player was by no means a superstar or best of the best so the number doesn't get the hanging in the rafters type of retirement- but #24 shouldn't be worn again. This is to honor Bob Probert. By not having anyone else wear that number, that would also be for us fans because there is only 1 #24 in my mind. Even Chelios only wore the number because he was honoring Bob Probert.

I think it's a joke that Ruslan Salei is going to wear #24. That's his number yes, but he shouldn't have even asked to wear it.

At least Brad May last year had the respect and decency to ask Chelios if he could wear it.

A good sign that the defense was doing well against the first team of the Steelers. Even though Stafford looked decent, that touchdown drive was against the 2nd team Steeler defense...which was conveniently not noticed by Shepp or Rob in the broadcast.

Can we just stick to the players and stop reporting on which front office person is speaking to Steve Yzerman? That's what GM's do they go out and hire a staff...which means nothing to the average fan.

On a bum shoulder, Maltby played his best season since before the lockout. He was not a minus player, was responsible defensively, once again was an effective penalty killer, and I thought he hit more this year than the last 3 seasons.

Still a good 4th line player and P-killer. If he could still score 4-5 more goals then he could still be a great addition to this team. Depends on if they want to pay a little more for a guy like Miller and be satisfied with Maltby's handful of goals.

If Howie can play a little better than average, we will be ok. I think we've outplayed them for the most part. Howie gave up 2 bad goals and our defense left him out to dry on the OT goal.

Nabokov is not a pressure situation goalie that is needed in the playoffs. There's no problems with us scoring on him and if we can get the next 2 wins then I think Nabokov will be a headcase like he always is in the playoffs.

Ritola in for Williams is a no brainer. Lebda plays better with Lilja. Ericsson still plays like he's lost out there.

When a team averages 3.5 goals a game in the playoffs like we are, that's when you win. But, with Howie giving up 3 goals a game and consistently lets in bad goals it's too hard to overcome. He let in 2 bad goals in game 2 and 2 more bad ones last night.

Sure the defense will have let downs and but most of the time the goalie needs to step up. Howie is not doing that consistently. It's too bad because all of our top players are playing great and scoring like they are supposed to.

The OT goal, nothing Howie could do--that was all Rafalski not taking away that pass. Onto game 4!

dtrain and Vardog--know your opponent. For starters Rob Blake is not the captain of the Guppies. Patrick Marleau is.

I think Howie gave up 2 bad goals. Yes, on the one goal the D left him hung out to dry, but that's when we needed another great save from him. Usually they overcome a bad goal, just didn't happen this time.

Howie will be alright. Most of the game we played good and came back strong. Something to build on for the next one.

Ken- you are on the right track. But, I don't think it's a coinflip at this point to put in Ozzie or leave Howie in there. The right move is to put Ozzie in. Howie just does not look right at all. It's not like we lose 2 games 1-0 or 2-1...he's giving up 3+ each game. No team can overcome that and be successful in the playoffs.

And yes, defense will make a mistake or two but that's when Howie needs to bail them out, like Ozzie did the last 2 yrs...Howie isn't doing that. Pull him for a game, let him watch...and then stick his a$$ back in there for game 5. This way his confidence isn't blown and knows it's just a 1 game to sit out.

Playoffs are Ozzie's time...he's proven that. Give him a chance. If not...I think we are still ok. The big Yapper Doan, got HOWIEWALLED and went down like the pathetic loser that he is!